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Title
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Maid and the magpie
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Singer
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Hambidge, Charles
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Song Lyrics
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Verse 1
There once was a maid kept an old magpie,
And the parson that prayed lived very close by;
Her lover was a sailor, and he sailed across the main,
She promised she would be his bride when he returned again,
But still she let the parson see her home from church,
Kissing, never thinking of the magpie on the perch.
Chorus
So the maid and the magpie would talk all the day.
The maid would believe what the magpie did say -
'But still I love the parson, but don't you tell the tar.'
And the old magpie only said, 'Quaw, quaw.'
Verse 2
While stationed at Gibraltar the sailor, as it seems,
While sleeping in his cosy bunk had very funny dreams;
Then he took his passage homeward, as quickly as could be,
He landed safely at her house but no maiden could he see;
He then went to the magpie who was dancing on the perch,
So the magpie told him all about the parson at the church.
Chorus
Verse 3
Now when he met the maiden he passed her with disdain,
So she sued for breach of promise, five hundred to obtain;
He brought the magpie into court, who told a truthful tale,
And to get what she required the maiden did fail.
Then they went for the parson and in vain for him did search,
For when he heard about it he vanished from the church;
The lawyer couldn't find him, so the case went on the shelf,
And that pretty little maiden had to dwell by herself.
Chorus
Now the maiden and the magpie never talk all the day,
For that jolly little sailor took the knowing bird away;
And now, with all his shipmates, the jolly hearted tar,
Will tell the truthful tale, while the magpie laughs - 'Quaw, Quaw.'
